Military Steps In, Residents Flee As Osun Communal Clash Escalates

In what will come across as a really concerning development, many residents of Ilobu and Ifon communities in Osun State have fled their houses, following deadly clashes between the two towns.

The PUNCH correspondent, who visited the Ojutu area of Ilobu on Thursday, observed residents of Ilobu and Ifon moving out of the affected areas in large numbers.

The PUNCH correspondent also observed that corps members serving in the affected areas were being evacuated by the state government.

Soldiers, operatives of the Department of State Services, and police operatives were seen at the entrance to the two communities.

A resident of Ilobu, who identified himself as Tajudeen Oyasope, said he decided to move out his family from the affected area after the clashes escalated overnight.

He said, “I am moving my family out of the area affected by the communal clashes. My family are moving out, but I will stay back to observe the situation of things.

“The fight got so intense overnight. We could not sleep. We were hearing heavy gunshots. To avoid being caught in the fight, I have decided to move  my family out.”

Also, a corps member, who identified herself simply as Cynthia, said. “I am serving in Ifon and because of the fight, all of us, corps members serving in the town, are being moved out to another place.”

The spokesman for the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, while commenting on the situation, the police on Wednesday lost a new patrol van to the mayhem.

“They accused us of taking sides. It is unfortunate that the Monitoring Section van that was donated to us was burnt. Four of our men are in hospital now, they were shot. The Divisional Police Officer of Ilobu was among those who were shot. He was shot in the hand. But thanks to God, they are all responding to treatment. They ambushed policemen when our men attempted to broker peace in the area.”

The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, had on Wednesday imposed a fresh curfew (6am to 6pm) on the warring communities.

A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said, “Human and vehicular movement is to be restricted during the curfew till further notice. This is to forestall attempts of destruction of lives and properties during this period, because of the land dispute.”